The Dolomites – a world of mountains and culture

The interplay of history and tradition

Brunico/Bruneck is the only city to be found amongst the mighty peaks of the Dolomites, yet its cultural influence reaches far beyond its location and is visible in the form of historical castles and forts, fascinating museums and historical churches. Each Dolomite valley has its own culture: the broad Pustertal Valley, the magical Schlern region and the Ladin villages which even have their own language.

A journey through history … Spiritual highlights include the churches at San Candido, Ortisei, Brunico/Bruneck and the monastery of Maria Weissenstein in Nova Ponente, while views of the heavens are also offered by the planetarium at San Valentino in Campo. Brunico/Bruneck itself is a lively city, rich in culture, as can at once be seen in the city museum that allows the curious to learn more about its history, which dates back at least to the Roman settlement at Sebatum: the excavations can be visited at nearby San Lorenzo. The Museum Dolomythos in San Candido goes back millions of years further into the Earth’s history. For history buffs the Badia Valley settlement of Les Villes is the oldest of this type in the area, while the castles of Prösels and Brunico/Bruneck are medieval in origin.

Timeless cultural treasuresThe present-day culture of the Dolomites is equally inspiring. The area of Ladinia, with its Rhaeto-Romanic language and profound sense of tradition, is like a little world of its own and repays a visit at any time, for instance to the arts and crafts market held in Santa Cristina between July and September; the traditional Stegener Market – the largest in the Alpine region – is held in Brunico/Bruneck each autumn; and the Dobbiaco/Toblach festival is the place for lovers of classical music, while the Steinegg Live festival offers a wide selection of sounds and culture. Towards the end of the year the Christmas spirit can be felt in particular in Ortisei, at the Mountain Christmas in Selva, in Brunico/Bruneck itself and up at the Pragser Wildsee lake, surrounded by enchanted mountain peaks.

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